503: Chapter 503, Floor 997!!

"It's time for a full sprint."

Qin Yan took a deep breath and waved his hand—

The moyuan spirit weapon suddenly appeared in his hand!

As the long spear entered his hand, a feeling of being connected by blood immediately welled up in his heart.

Five-colored brilliance flowed upon the spear's shaft; that was the light of the Five Elements' power.

blood qi coiled around it; that was the aura of blood power.

The two powers intertwined, emitting a terrifying majesty!

At the same time, Xuan Ming True Water Qi and Nanming Li Fire True Qi erupted around Qin Yan's body!

Ethereal blue and crimson, the two strands of True Qi wrapped around him, forming a protective shield of intertwined ice and fire.

Alternating cold and heat, Yin and Yang complementing each other, it fended off a portion of the pressure for him.

"Blood Burst!"

Qin Yan immediately activated his Spirit Weapon Skill!

The moment the words fell, streaks of blood-colored light suddenly erupted from the moyuan spirit weapon!

That blood light was so rich it was almost solid, spreading rapidly and soon covering the entire long spear.

Blood-red and five colors intertwined on the spear's shaft, forming a strange and magnificent pattern.

At the same time, Qin Yan could clearly feel—

His own blood qi suddenly doubled!

That surging, overwhelming power roared through his body, filling him with explosive strength!

After everything was ready, Qin Yan looked toward the Heavenly Ladder ahead.

His gaze was as firm as iron.

Then, he took a step!

"Boom!"

His figure turned into an afterimage, rushing toward the upper reaches of the Heavenly Ladder!

...

Meanwhile, at the 910th layer.

Lin Qingyue was standing on this layer, layers of flowing water coiling around her to form a moving barrier.

Around her, an invisible Tidal Domain was unfolding—it was an innate skill that came with her divine uniqueness.

The power of the tides, endless and ever-renewing.

And around her body, Sword Intent was also circulating.

That was her hard-earned attainment in the Dao of the sword; although it had not yet reached Perfection, it already possessed some grandeur.

She was struggling to resist the invisible pressure of the Heavenly Ladder.

That pressure was too immense.

So great that every step was arduous, and every breath required her full effort.

Sweat could be faintly seen seeping from her forehead, sliding down her cheeks.

"I must persevere."

Lin Qingyue lightly bit her lip, those pale blue eyes that were usually as calm as water were now filled with determination.

"The 910th layer is far from my limit!"

She didn't believe she could only reach this far.

She still had potential, still had trump cards, and still had an unyielding will!

Just then—

She suddenly heard a burst of exclamations coming from the Heavenly Ladder below.

The shouts rose and fell, carrying an unbelievable shock.

What happened now?

Lin Qingyue frowned slightly and turned her head to look down.

Then, her gaze froze.

She saw a terrifying figure.

That figure was sprinting upward at an astonishing speed!

Above his head, a towering river of blood roared and surged, dyeing the surrounding space blood-red.

In his hand, a five-colored spirit weapon shone brilliantly, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

blood qi permeated the long spear.

Two types of Spear Intent erupted around him simultaneously—one black and one red, one of extinction and one of destruction, intertwining and echoing each other to form a terrifying Concept!

Two strands of True Qi coiled around his body—ethereal blue and crimson, icy and fiery, alternating and circulating!

Wherever that figure passed, even the pressure of the Heavenly Ladder seemed to be somewhat dispersed!

Lin Qingyue's heart shook violently.

This foundation...

How deep must it be!

Which Prodigy is this again?

Because Qin Yan was currently wrapped in layers of the blood river, True Qi, Spear Intent, and light, she couldn't see the person's full appearance at all.

She could only vaguely see a blurry silhouette sprinting upward at high speed.

That figure's speed was very fast.

Within a few breaths, he was on the same layer as her.

At the moment they brushed past each other, the figure suddenly turned his head.

"Lin Qingyue, keep it up."

The voice was somewhat familiar, and it carried a bit of a cheeky tone.

"I'll wait for your Heavenly Ladder journey to surpass mine."

After saying that, the figure flashed her a 'keep it up' gesture, and then—

"Bang!"

He soared into the sky again, continuing to blast upward!

After all, he couldn't maintain this state for too long and had to seize the time to rush up.

Lin Qingyue was stunned.

Her pale blue eyes were instantly dazed.

"He is... Qin Yan?"

She murmured to herself, unable to believe it.

How could it be?

Although she hadn't seen the face of this terrifying figure clearly just now, she was all too familiar with Qin Yan's familiar and slightly cheeky voice.

It was indeed Qin Yan.

But...

How could he be so terrifying?!

That towering river of blood, that five-colored spirit weapon, those two types of Spear Intent, those two strands of True Qi...

Every single part of his foundation was enough to make any Prodigy take notice.

And he possessed so many at the same time!

Thinking back to before they entered the Heavenly Ladder, when she had confidently told Qin Yan that she would definitely surpass him on the ladder—

Lin Qingyue's face couldn't help but burn with embarrassment.

It was such a slap in the face.

"No, I haven't lost yet!"

She quickly snapped out of it and shook her head vigorously.

"I haven't reached my limit! Qin Yan might run out of steam later!"

She cheered herself up.

She looked toward the Heavenly Ladder ahead and resolutely took a step forward!

...

"Special Grade Disciple—Beichen Xing, has cleared the Heavenly Ladder!"

"Special Grade Disciple—Zhao Wuji, has cleared the Heavenly Ladder!"

"..."

On the Heavenly Ladder, the names of the Prodigies who successfully cleared it continued to be broadcasted.

Every time a name rang out, it drew looks of envy from the new Disciples below.

Clearing the Heavenly Ladder was an honor, a proof of ability, and a symbol of infinite future possibilities.

But Qin Yan, who was currently attempting the challenge, had no time to worry about these things.

He was focused on the sprint before him.

The reason was simple—

After his full-scale eruption, he had now reached the 990th layer!

Nine more layers forward, and he could also successfully clear the Heavenly Ladder!

However, even with his foundation, as he reached the 990th layer, his footsteps suddenly grew heavy!

That pressure suddenly surged!

It felt as if he were carrying a giant mountain on his back, pressing down so hard he could barely breathe.

Every step was incredibly difficult; every time he lifted a foot, he had to exhaust all his strength.

Qin Yan gritted his teeth and persevered.

He moved toward the higher layers bit by bit.

Layer 991.

Layer 992.

Layer 993.

...

With every step forward, the pressure increased by a notch.

With every layer ascended, his body grew a notch heavier.

By the time Qin Yan reached the 997th layer, sweat was pouring down his forehead frantically!

The sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the Heavenly Ladder.

His footsteps were shaky and trembling, as if he might collapse at any moment.

But he did not fall.

He raised his head and looked forward.

Two more layers.

Two more layers, and he could clear it.

But those two steps now seemed further away than all the previous steps combined.

And just then, he felt a scorching aura coming from ahead.